Traction-engine.



No. 787,500.- PAT-ENTED APR. 18, 1905.

B. J. DIPLOOK. I

TRACTION ENGINE. APPLICATION rum) AUG. 1. 1904.

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Wibzemrw PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

BQ-J. DIPLOGK.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1904.

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PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

B. J. DIPLOGK. TRACTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1904',

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TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 11119.1, 1904.-

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Wibweauw. jnU'enZ-Or fl My UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATIENT OFFICE.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 787,500, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed August 1, 1904. Serial No. 219,025.

To all 1071,0712 it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRAMAH JOSEPH DIP- LOCK, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 53 Ashley Gardens, VVestminster, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines and other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in the vehicles described in the specification of my Patent No. 658,004, dated September 18, 1900, in which the vehicle as it moves places feet on the ground, such feet supporting rollers on which rails carried by the vehicle run.

The object of this invention is to diminish friction and the strains upon the various parts and to simplify the arrangement and render it more compact.

I now place the rollers centrally above the feet, and I provide for each foot two spokes (each with its own spring) working in guides in two parallel disks, the rail carried by the body of the vehicle and supported by the rollers being between the disks, the whole arrangement being thus symmetrical about the vertical plane through the centers of the feet. The lower ends of each pair of spokes are preferably connected together to give rigidity. The disks are connected together by distancepieces between the spokes, and the axle-box is carried through the inner disk and has fixed to it a flange or plates by which the rail is carried. The outer disk is keyed to and driven by the axle or driving sleeve, or the axle may be stationary and carry the rail, the two disks revolving loosely on it, or the inner disk may be driven by gear or otherwise. The rollers are also formed with a central groove, or, in other words, each consists of a pair of rollers a short distance apart connected by a sleeve. This enables me to greatly simplify the friction gear for turning the feet. This gear now consists of a split collar adjustably clamped onto the sleeve and carrying a pair of arms, to which are pivoted rods bearing on the top of the foot at the front and back at diametrically opposite points, the movement of the arms after they have turned through a certain angle being resisted by springs. Spring-rods carried by the disks and bearing on the two sides of the top of the foot are also provided to control its lateral tilting.

The body of the vehicle is supported from the rail in the following manner: Fixed to the vehicle, preferably to the axle, (or the axle-box if the axle rotates,) is aplate 0r pair of plates, preferably in the form of -a cross. The upper arm of the cross has pivoted to it a lever, and the lower arm is slotted to receive a bearing for the pivot of the rail, which bearing can rise and fall in the slot. The rail is connected to the ends of the lever by a pair of springs and to the side arms of the cross by links in another pair of springs.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of part of a vehicle constructed according to this invention, the plane of section being A A, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation on the line B B, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section on the line C C, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing the position of the parts when a foot in descending is prevented by a lump or large stone in the road from reaching the level of the lowest foot.

(t represents the feet, pivoted by universal joints to the ends of double spokes 5,.which are free to move in and out in guides c, fixed between the parallel disks (Z, balls or slides (not shown) being interposed between the guides and the spokes.

6 represents springs having one end fixed to the disks and the other to the spokes. These springs tend to pull the spokes inward.

f represents grooved rollers pivoted on pivots f, supported by the branches of the spokes 7) and running on the rail h and its side extensions j. The inner disk d runs loose on the axle-box in, while the outer disk is keyed to a sleeve Z on the axle.

m represents distance-pieces holding the disks apart.

a is a plate or pair of plates fixed to the axle-box 71:, and 0 is a lever pivoted to it. The

pivot it of the rail it works in a block 19, free to move in slots in the plates )'t.

q and 1* are springs connecting the rail h to the lever 0 and plates a, respectively, and r represents links or rods in the springs r, having heads 7 which limit the descent of the rail, so that when the descending foot comes upon a lump or inequality in the ground compound leverage is brought to bear on the springs and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4, thus avoiding shock.

As the disks (Z revolve the centrifugal force tends to make the feet assume a tangential position, so that they would come edgewise instead of flat onto the ground. To prevent this, sleeves s are placed around the middles of the rollersf, their friction being regulated by adjustingscrews 8. When the rollers come to the extensions j of the rail and commence to revolve, the sleeves 8 turn with them, moving one of the rods t, carried by the sleeve, outward against its spring a, so turning the foot, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer ends of the rods are preferably connected to the feet by a ball-and-socket joint, the line joining the centers of these two balls passing through the center of the main balljoint of the foot, or, in place of a ball and socket, any universal joint will do. Undue sidewise tilting of the feet is prevented by similar rods 41, carried by the disks and pressed outward by springs 20.

What I claim is 1. The combination of a vehicle-body, an oscillating rail pivoted to it, feet carried by it, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to the feet centrally above them and supporting the rail.

2. The combination of a vehicle-body, an axle and a rail carried by it, a pair of disks carried on the axle, guides on the disks, pairs of spokes working in the guides, feet pivoted to the spokes, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to the feet between the spokes and supporting the rail.

3. The combination with a foot for supporting a vehicle of a pair of spokes, a universal joint connecting the foot to the spokes, a pivot carried by the spokes and a roller mounted on the pivot.

4. The combination with a foot for supporting a vehicle of a pair of spokes, a universal joint connecting the foot to the spokes, a pivot carried by the spokes, a roller mounted on the pivot, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position. i

5. The combination with a foot for supporting a vehicle of a pair of spokes, a universal joint connecting the foot to the spokes, apivot carried by the spokes, a roller mounted on the pivot, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

6. The combination with afoot for supporting a vehicle of a pair of spokes, a universal joint connecting the foot to the spokes, apivot carried by the spokes, a roller mounted on the pivot, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for ad- I ing a vehicle of a pair of spokes, a universal joint connecting the foot to the spokes, a pivot carried by the spokes, a roller mounted on the pivot, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, a pair of rods carried by the sleeve, and ball-joints connecting the rods to the foot.

8. The combination of a vehicle-b0dy,a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail.

9. The combination ofa vehicle-body,a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connectionsbetween the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, springs surrounding the links, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail.

10. The combination of a vehicle-body, a lever pivoted to the body and supporting it, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a rail between the disks, spring connections between the lever and rail, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, feet pivoted to the spokes, rollers pivoted to the spokes and means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail.

11. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limit ing its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to thefeet and supporting the rail.

12. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the railto the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail.

13. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted IIO vsvfsoo to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground and rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail.

14. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes and means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail.

15. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes and means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail.

16. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

17. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links.

connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivotin frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

18. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair oftdisks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve'for turning the foot into position.

19. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the. plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means ,for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

20. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting'its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

21. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, springs surrounding the links, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and. supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position. 22. The combination of a vehicle-body, a lever pivoted to the body and supporting it, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a rail between the disks, spring connections between the lever and rail, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, feet pivoted to the spokes, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet ap- &

I proach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

23. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

24. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides. springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivotin frictional con tact with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

25. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

26. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, aplate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, 'a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

27. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links con necting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground,

rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

28. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rails, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, springs surrounding the links, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

29. The combination of a vehicle-body, a lever pivoted to the body and supporting it, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a rail be tween the disks, spring connections between the lever and rail, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, feet pivoted to the spokes, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact. with the roller, and a pair of rods carried by the sleeve and bearing on the foot.

30. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections be tween the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limit ing its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and sup porting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

81. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet-approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

32. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

33. The combination of a vehicle-body, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a plate fixed to the body between the disks, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, a pivot at the middle of the rail working in the plate, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, universal joints at the ends of the spokes, feet carried by the joints, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

34. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

35. The combination of a vehicle-body, a plate fixed to the body, a lever pivoted to the plate, a rail, spring connections between the lever and rail, arms on the plate, links connecting the rail to the arms and limiting its movement, springs surrounding the links, feet carried by the body, means for placing the feet successively on the ground, rollers pivoted to the feet and supporting the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

36. The combination of a Vehicle-body, a lever pivoted to the body and supporting it, a pair of disks pivoted to the body, a rail between the disks, spring connections between the lever and rail, guides on the disks, spokes working in the guides, springs tending to draw the spokes inward, feet pivoted to the spokes, rollers pivoted to the spokes, means for forcing the rollers outward as the feet approach the ground and guiding them beneath the rail, a sleeve mounted on the pivot in frictional contact with the roller, means for adjusting the pressure of the sleeve upon the roller, and means operated by the sleeve for turning the foot into position.

-BRAMAH JOSEPH DIPLOCK.

Witnesses:

H. D. JAMEsoN, F. L. RAND. 

